Tonsillectomy Info for Pediatricians

Tonsillectomy is one of the most commonly performed procedures today. Approximately 600,000 people undergo tonsillectomies each year in the US, and it is the second most common surgery performed on children.

From Infection to Obstruction

Historically, chronic infection was the primary indication for tonsillectomy. Today the most common reason for tonsil removal is adenotonsillar hypertrophy causing obstruction. Enlarged tonsils, and enlarged adenoids that frequently present with them, are associated with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and other upper airway disorders. SDB actually encompasses a variety of obstructive conditions that range from primary snoring to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Children with SDB can suffer from bedwetting, hypertension, sleepiness, a failure to thrive, and even hyperactive-type behavior problems.¹ ² Given the potentially serious effects of obstruction, tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy remain an important treatment approach available to pediatricians.  
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Coblation Tonsillectomy Helps Your Patients Feel Better Faster

For the past 20 years, the traditional method of choice for tonsillectomy has been electrocautery. Although this procedure yields satisfactory clinical results, the patient's postoperative experience is less than optimal. Unpleasant complications such as pain³, secondary hemorrhage, and longer recovery time⁴ are still an issue. Fortunately, an advanced procedure that improves the patient's postoperative experience is available:
Coblation® Tonsillectomy.⁵

1. Rosen CL, Storfer-Isser A, Taylor G, et al. Increased behavioral morbidity in school-aged children with sleep-disordered breathing. Pediatrics. 2004;114(6):1640-1648.
2. Chan J, Edman JC, Koltai PJ. Obstructive sleep apnea in children. Am Fam Physician. 2004:69:1147-1151.
3. Temple RH, Timms MS. Paediatric Coblation tonsillectomy. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2001;61:195-198.
4. Belloso A, Chidambaram A, Morar P, Timms MS. Coblation tonsillectomy versus dissection tonsillectomy: postoperative hemorrhage. Laryngoscope. 2003;113(11):2010-2013
5. Walner DL. Pediatric tonsillectomy: Coblation versus electrocautery. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the AAO-HNS; September 22-24, 2004; New York, NY.

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